The last Foreign Office-chartered flight from Libya has arrived in Britain with many passengers grateful to have escaped the strife-torn North African state.

Around 100 people, including 53 Britons, touched down on Flight BUR220 at Gatwick Airport in West Sussex, many of whom work in the oil industry.

One of them, 45-year-old James Munro, from Elgin, Scotland, said the camp he was staying in survived any problems but many others were not so lucky.

Speaking at Gatwick's South Terminal, he said: "We were stuck in the desert so one of the biggest problems was getting out of there. When we were eventually given a place on a plane this morning we were given 10 minutes to pack our bags and there were only three seats available.

"The three guys that worked for my oil company, Waha, were given priority. But there are still guys out there because there isn't a plane for them."

Detailing the chaotic scenes once he reached Tripoli Airport, Mr Munro said: "Tripoli Airport is filthy and there are hundreds, thousands sitting outside and inside the airport. Fighting broke out and it's really chaotic."

He praised the British Government's efforts to repatriate them, saying they did as much as they could. "They did an excellent job and got us through as quickly as possible. It's just chaos and there is so much rubbish lying about at the airport.

"We were quite lucky because we were from the UK. They didn't waste much time getting us out."

He said their camp escaped being targeted by crooks but at others, vehicles were stolen and camps torched.

Another passengers at Gatwick, a Libyan man who declined to be named, said: "It's sad but it will be over soon."